FOR TROJANS, IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL RIVALRY IS NOT PART OF USC MIND-SET.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

Rivalry seems to be taking a back seat to necessity as USC travels to the Rose Bowl today to face UCLA on the football field for the 76thtime.

This game isn't personal for USC players. The hatred is lacking. The revenge factor -- to extend the school's winning streak in the cross-town matchup to eight games and match the run the Bruins had in the 1990s -- isn't on their minds.

The Trojans need a victory in their final regular-season game to wrap up the No. 2 spot in the BCS rankings and a trip to Glendale, Ariz., to play No. 1 Ohio State for the national championship.

The Bruins happen to be the team standing in their way.

``It's just important for us to win a game,'' USC quarterback John David Booty said. ``It's not any more important to me (to beat UCLA). I just want to win.''

That doesn't mean USC isn't taking the Bruins seriously. Coach Pete Carroll has watched UCLA closely this year. One reason is that his former assistant coach, DeWayne Walker, is now the Bruins' defensive coordinator.

``He came in and had a huge impact on them,'' Carroll said of Walker. ``Their style is different. Their level of intensity and energy that they bring to game day is different, and he deserves a lot of credit for that.''

USC is trying to sweep its rivals -- Notre Dame and UCLA -- an unprecedented fifth consecutive year.

The game isn't receiving as much hype as last season. USC is 10-1 and UCLA 6-5, compared to 11-0 and 9-1 last year, when there were high-profile matchups of USC running back Reggie Bush vs. UCLA's Maurice Drew and Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart against the Bruins' Drew Olson.

USC players expect UCLA to come out fired up looking to end the losing streak, especially after the 66-19 embarrassment the Trojans laid on the Bruins last year.

``We know they're going to bring out every trick in the book,'' linebacker Rey Maualuga said. ``To them, this is not just a regular game. It's playing for all the marbles.''

Carroll is wary of final games of the regular season and has warned seniors not to get carried away with thinking about the moment.

``I don't want them to try to make all those plays they haven't made in their career yet, to get outside themselves'' Carroll said. ``To those guys in particular, I'll grab them aside and make sure everyone is clear and no one is over-trying. It's always one of the greatest pitfalls.''

There is a threat of a letdown after getting through three consecutive games against ranked opponents. Most pundits already are talking about USC's potential matchup with Ohio State.

However, USC has avoided letdown games under Carroll.

``The history of all sports says yes,'' Carroll said of a letdown. ``The history of this football team says no.''

Nearly half (10 of 22) of USC's starters on offense and defense came from outside Southern California, which might explain the lack of personal feeling about the rivalry.

But most of the players have been around long enough to see the game's impact in the community.

``There are a few games we play around here that if we win, people will kind of overlook other things, and this is one of them as the cross-town rivalry,'' Booty said. ``I understand the importance to people.''

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4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) A win today would give USC's Pete Carroll and John David Booty another reason to celebrate.

(2) From left, USC's Oscar Lua, John David Booty, Ryan Kalil and Dallas Sartz hope to lift the Trojans into the BCS title game.

Kirby Lee/Special to the Daily News

(3) John David Booty

(4) Rodney Van